Governor's Daughter (A Mush Meyers Love Story)

Chapter 6: Keep Me Safe

That Wednesday, afterschool I went to the harbor. Mush was taking forever. I had already been at the harbor for 15 minutes and he hadn’t showed up. I was starting to think he had forgotten about me. Maybe he didn’t want to talk to me anymore. I sighed and walked away from the harbor. I was stupid to believe this would ever work in the first place. As I was walking, Grace ran up to me from the other side of the street. She looked out of breath but like she had been laughing.

                “Where were you?” she asked, “I was looking for you.”

                “I was at the harbor,” I said, “What is wrong with you?”

                “You should have stayed with me. Buck ran into some newsie on his way to the harbor. It was that newsie that was talking to you when we went to the dinner. He beat him up real good.”

                I tried not to look shocked and worried. “He beat him up?”

                “Yeah. Gave him a black eye and everything. It was pretty funny.”

                “Yeah, real funny. I should have been there. Um, I’ll see you later. I have to go.”

                “Go where?”

                “Home. My father was super mad at me for knocking over this vase in his office so I’m grounded. I’m lucky I left early enough to go to the harbor.”

                “Fine.”

                I ran passed Grace. I ran to town square and to the newsboys lounge. Jack and Race were outside.

                “Hey, Anna,” Jack said, “How’s it goin’?”

“Fine I guess,” I said, “I’ve been a little on the edge lately.”

“Why? Rich kids ain’t doin’ it for you over there? Your set beat up anymore newsies?”

“I’m sorry Buck hit Mush, Jack. I wanted to help him, but I didn’t know.”

“Yeah, well, you better go and tell that to Mush,” Race said, “He still has a bruise on his cheek.”

I sighed and went into the lounge. His door was closed and I could hear the shuffling of papers. The shuffling stopped when I walked into the door. Mush stood in the middle of the deserted room. I looked into his eyes as he stared at me like he wished I wasn’t there. I was tired of him continually being mad at me. I bit my lip to keep from saying anything I was going to regret. He sat back in his chair and continued to look through papers. I sat on the bed that was across from him. I looked at his cheek where the bruise was clearly visible on his skin.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t here sooner,” I said, “I thought you had forgotten about me.”

“Whatever,” he said.

“Does your cheek feel ok? It looks pretty bad.”

“It’s fine.”

“Mush, will you look at me?”

He turned his head to me. His eyes were cold and hard, but I could see the tears that threatened to spill down his face. I wanted to stop hurting him. I knew I was. I knew he was upset that I had to be two people. If only he knew how much I cared about him. How I much I wanted him to stop being mad at me and comfort him.

“You didn’t do anything,” he said, “Your friend punched me in the face and beat me up. I knew you would hear about it. I saw your friend Grace. I figured you didn’t come by so you didn’t care.”

“You know I care,” I said, “I came as soon as she told me. I had to get away from her. Rich kids aren’t supposed to feel sorry for newsies.”

“But you’re different.”

“But not everyone knows that, Mush. I’ll be ruined if anyone finds out. My life, my family. It’ll all be ruined. I’m worried Grace is getting suspicious and my sister. Everything is falling apart and I’m trying to keep it together before it breaks.”

I felt like crying. Mush came over to me and sat next to me on the bed. I touched his cheek with my hand. The black and blue that painted it reminded me of what I was doing to him. I rubbed my thumb lightly over the bruise. He flinched under my touch, but he didn’t pull away. I brushed away one of the tears that had escaped his cheek. Without warning, Mush’s arms were around me in a hug and mine were around his neck. I dug my face into his shoulder. I couldn’t help but feel vulnerable around Mush. Mush brought out something else in me. Something I tried to keep hidden when with my rich friends. Because on the rich side, you fake your way to the top and weakness isn’t shown.

“Anna,” Mush whispered my name, “I know what you have to do. I know how hard your life is, but if it’s easier for you to not talk to me and go back to how your life used to be then do it. I just want you to be safe.”

“It wouldn’t be easier,” I said into his shirt, “I want to be with you. It’s my new life and I love it. I just don’t want to be looked down on at home. My friends and sister would disown me. I’m scared.”

I didn’t know tears were falling from my eyes until Mush wiped one away. I tried to wipe the rest of them off my face. I didn’t want to seem like a sissy girl even though what I really wanted to do was crawl in a corner and cry. Everything could be ruined with just a few words. Mush leaned into me. He kissed my cheek tenderly and it made my stomach flutter. My heart started to pick up its pace. He looked up at me to see if I would pull away from him if he tried to do it again. When I didn’t move, his lips moved to hover in front of mine. His baby pink lips met mine. My eyes closed as the kiss continued. I moved my hand to the back of his neck to pull him closer to me. I didn’t realize how much I felt about Mush until he kissed me. Mush put his hands on my waist moving me into his lap. We both pulled away, our breaths coming out in heavy gasps. My hand rested on his chest while the other was still playing with the hair on the back of his neck.

“I was so upset when you said you couldn’t be with me,” he said, “I might be a newsie with street rats and criminals for friends but I still have feelings.”

“I want to be with you too, Mush,” I said, “I didn’t mean to hurt you. I never want to hurt you.”

“I don’t want you to be scared.”

“Sure, big tough street kid is going to keep me safe.”

“Well I am a newsie.”

I smiled as he hugged me again. I started to think maybe things would work out for the better.